Romanoff Dukedom: The Heroine (14)

"Ius, want seems to be your problem? Can you get out instead of spreading your bad vibes?" Herkel gruntingly said as he took a bite of the apple in his hand.

His other companions couldn't help but agree, nodding their heads along every time that Hekel announced his disapproval of Ius' behavior. It was on the grounds that they didn't covet to be in a similar temper with Ius.

In spite of what preceded, Ius didn't respond as to a blink. He simply embraced a silence that his comrades dared not to disturb. They even pitied the servants -- the ones cleaning the garden -- who were on the receiving end of his gaze.

As of the moment, no one would be able to pull Ius out from his thorough contemplation. More than anything, the scene inside the Duchess' study was of great botherance to his conscience.

'It's so foolish that they're trying to deny what's obvious. Even the Duchess is going along with that servant's farce. I highly doubt that my mother can be fooled. The only reason that I could come up with is that my mother's planning to use that maid.'

Although it's an understatement of what he truly felt, it was disgruntling for him to abstain from tackling an individual who had gained his apprehension, within two days to boot. He could feel his hands itching for action.

"If I inform the Duke regarding this matter, will he take my side or the Duchess'?"

Oblivious that he had just spoken out loud, Ius did not notice that his companions were terrified upon hearing his words.

"Dear Lord, Ius! Do you want to replace the Duchess?! Are you coming out of the closet?! Wait, that's not the worst issue here. Are you in love with the Duke?!" Herkel hollered without restraint in his voice.

Because of the shock, the grip of his hands loosened, making him drop the fruit and let it stain the white bed-sheet.

As was foreseeable, the other young men threw a disbelieving gaze towards Herkel. Even supposing they're aware of his propensity to assume things to his own liking, the ones that he brought up were as absurd as his tendencies.

"Can you even comprehend, Herkel? At what part did Ius say that he wanted to be the Duchess? Seriously, your imagination is on the bad spectrum of strange." Ivar spouted his opinions in a method similar to Herkel's vulgarity.

"Wha-"

"Cease your bickering right this instant." Ius interposed at the outset of the two young men's petty dispute.

Following the interference, he met the eyes of each and every one of his comrades.

'Until I discover what that maid is hiding, I'll put off the search for the suspect in Herkel's case.' Just then, Ius closed his eyes, 'No, it's not that I'm putting it off. The most probable suspect will be within my reach if I continue in this manner.'

Thereafter averting his gaze from the view outside the window, he resumed his speech, "Tonight, instead of tailing two targets, we're going to focus on one."

"What do you mean by that, Ius? We're already nearing our mission. In addition to that, we've all found a way as to how we're going to proceed. If you change all of a su-"

"Fluger," Ius said as he locked eyes with the young man, "There's something that you all have to know."

Fluger nodded at Ius to urge him to speak. The three young men who were sitting on the couch duly stood up and approached the bed. Once they were beside Herkel, Ius approached the group and began his explanation.

"Earlier, I was on my way to the Head Maid's room to search. But I encountered her there, together with Erwin, the Head Butler, and the maid that has golden eyes."

"Oh, the one named Helga?" Herkel asked as he picked up the apple and placed it on the nightstand.

"No, her name is not Helga. The maid who told her name must've mistaken who I was pertaining to."

"Then what's her name?"

A grin immediately appeared on Ius' countenance, one that his comrades rarely saw. They couldn't help but anticipate Ius' words.

"Zarya, her name is Zarya. It's the same maid who tended to your wounds, Herkel."

Herkel's mouth went agape, a frown soon followed. He slammed his hands on the bed and clutched the sheet.

"She really is the one who assaulted me! We have to get her now, Ius." Herkel said as he attempted to stand up.

However, Fluger and Ivar were quick to hold him down. Herkel was not in the state to move around as his wounds suggested.

Herkel began to struggle out of their hold, but his strength was lacking. Hence, after a few seconds of trying, he surrendered as he slammed his hands yet again on the bed.

"Ius, I'm warning you. If you don't catch her before this night ends, I'll be the one to hunt her down."

Ius merely looked at Herkel without a change in his expression. It was a rare, very rare, occurrence to see Herkel being enraged. And those occurrences never ended on a peaceful note. He had to think of a way to suppress Herkel's urges lest his plans would be ruined.

"Herkel, I-- No, all of us will make a pledge to catch the one who attacked you within the time window allowed by the Duke. However, it's too early to tell that Zarya was the one who attacked you. Your description of the suspect and Zarya's appearance are much too different."

"Then what do you want me to do?! Stay back and let that woman run around after deceiving me?"

Ius brushed his hair with his fingers, frustrated that Herkel didn't understand what he was saying. It even seemed as if he didn't listen from the start.

He inched further towards Herkel and lowered his head. When their eyes met, Ius grabbed Herkel's collar and spoke through his gritted teeth.

"Yes, I'm telling you to be quiet. Leave everything to me."